The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13
PLUCKY Civilians.

The Losses They Submitted to Rather than
Yield In a Matter Of Sentiment
Washington Special.
Judge Acknowledgement Remey, of the navy,
gave me an account the other night Of an incl.
dent which illustrates how much proud-spirited
people will undergo for a mere question Of sensi-
ment Just after the war Admiral John Rodgers
with convoy Of three war vessels and the great
double-turretted monitor, the Monadnoc. wero
sent to 60 around the Horn to visit the Pacific
coast. This trip was a test of the sea-going
qualities of the monitor. This heavy vessel
stood the voyage better even than any Of the
vessels of the feet. They arrived off Valparaiso
few months after the war had closed. Their
vessels were manned by veterans and COM
manded By one of the most courageous officers
Of the war. The Spanish authorities at that time
had sent out feet to punish Chilli for some In
suit to the Spanish flag Admiral Rodgers when
site the city found large fleet of Spanish mem
Of war blockading the harbor. The Chilians had
understood that the Americans were coming to
raise the blockade. The houses in the city were
black with people. Cheer upon cheer burst upon
the air as the four American vessels swung lin
side the Spanish line and anchored in the bay.
There was one other American war vessel in the
harbor et the time of the arrival.
UeQeral hllpACrlck naQ just arrived tnou IN
Chilli as our minister. He came down to the flag
ship and soon made the Americans acquainted
with the situation. The Spanish admiral had
notified the people of Valparaiso that he intend
ed to lombard the town in four days unless the
Chilians would run up the Spanish flag at =
point out in the harbor salute to the Spanish
| fleet. This the Gillian authorities had refused.
| AS there were large American interests IA the
shape of bonded warehouses in this city, Gen:
| Fitzpatrick was very anxious to have Admiral
Rodgers drive off the Spanish fleet. Admiral
| Rodgers was ready for a fight, and said that il
| the British admiral, VINO was there with two or
three vessels. would cooperate with him to d.
| vide the responsibility he would go In. The En-
| glsh had then even larger interests than the
Americans in the city. There was French
! admiral in the harbor at the time of the Ameri-
cans arrival, but he stole out one night without
| saying word to anyone, to avoid complications.
Lord Denham, the British admiral, agreed to
| 60 in. Admiral Rodgers then had his vessels
prepared for action. He foated off tho
wooden cabins and hung out chains around the
| vessels. The Monitor was reduced to lighting
| trim right under the noses of the Spaniards.
| Meanwhile. the officers of the Spanish and
| American fleets were visiting back and forth.
| The Spanish admiral dined with Admiral Rod.
| gers the night before the day set for the bonn
bardment. This Spanish admiral, who was a
very small, but plucky, fellow. asked Admiral
| Rodgers what he was going to do. But before
receiving his reply the Spaniard said: "Admi.
| raj Rodgers you have made your reputation in
the last war of tho rebellion in the States
| have mine to make. 1 hereby notify you that
shall carry out the orders of my government to-
morrow morning at o'clock as long have
| gun af1oat," and with that he retired. The
English admiral funked at the very last mo
ment, and so we were spared serious internA
tional complication because Admiral Rodgers
did not feel like mourning the responsibility
alone He moved outside the line in the morn
ing, and the Spaniards bombarded the town I'M
der their very eyes. A third of the town wal
burned and several million dollars worth Of
property destroyed But the Chilians never
cried for quarter, and from the beginning of thu
ombardment to the close there not the frs
offer made to run up the Spanish flag at the flag
| post near the harbor.